Aeroplane



l. B.. SANDERS.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.I9,'I921.

.- 41 Patented Mar-14,1922.

. awwwkvz PATENT OFFICE.

IRA B. SANDERS, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

i AEROPLANE.

Application filed February 19, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IRA B. SANDERS, a citizenof the United States of America, residing at Fort Worth, in the countyof Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to aeroplanes and more particularly to planesadapted for gliding for hours without the aid of the motor and whichembodies a new principle of aeronautics together with the principles ofthe aeroplanes now in use, the new principle relating to planes set atdifierent angles from the ordinary planes and set at zero angle relativeto direction of travel; and the object is to provide aeroplanes whichwill fill the requirements of a practical, more dependable commercialmachine, more economical, adapted for safe passenger, mail, and expressservice, and more especially to provide an aeroplane which is adaptedfor slow and safe landings and to utilize the same natural fo-rces,wind.gravity, momentum, and velocity, that are utilized by certain largebirds, such as the American eagle and the common blizzard. These birdsspread their wings, and without flopping the wings. they can soar andsoar and rise higher and higher, and then travel for hours with onlynatural forces to sustain them. Other objects and advantages will befully explained in the following description and the invention will bemore particularly pointed out in the claim.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of thisapplication.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved aeroplane. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the same.

Similar characters of reference are used to indicate the same partsthroughout the several views.

The aeroplane shown herein has a body 1 which is provided with. doorsand windows or port holes 2. Lifting planes of the usual curved type aremounted on the body 1 in the ordinary way. Theaeroplane is provided withpropellers of ordinary type for driving the machine and is provided withan ordinary rudder and tail piece.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922'.

Serial No. 446,252.

In addition to the curved lifting planes above described, inclinedplanes 3 and 4 are attached to the body 1 near the lower part andattached at their upper and outer ends to another plane The planes 3 and4 are set at an angle of zero relative to the direction of travel. Themember 5 is also a horizontal member of zero angle attached to the topof the aeroplane for soaring or floating purposes.

In operation, the lifting planes and rudders operate as such devicesoperate in aeroplanes now in use. The soaring planes are for use afterthe desired height has been reached. The soaring planes are set at zeroangle or no lift or no resistance or an absolute plane with thedirection of travel when ascending. After the required height has beenreached, the engines may be cut off or slowed down. All planes of noangle or zero anglewill come into effect against the pull of gravitationand will sustain the aeroplane in the air without the aid of the motor,in a manner similar to the soaring of large birds which can soar forhours without flopping their wings. The rudder can then be used to makethe entire machine turn all the planes slightly downward and under theseconditions, the pull of gravity will carry the aeroplane long distanceswithout the aid of the motor, the aeroplane being sustained by means ofthe additional zero angle planes which operate on the parachuteprinciple and effect slow and safe landings. The automatic stabilizingeffect is obtained by the four inclined planes 3 and 4. the principalpart of the weight being below the center of gravity of the machine.

Vhat I claim, is,-

In an aeroplane provided with curved lifting planes and body.-sustaining planes consisting of a horizontal plane above said liftingplanes attached to said body and of planes set at an angle relative tosaid lifting planes attached to said body and to said horizontal plane,all of the last named planes except the lifting planes being set at anangle of zero relative to the direction of travel.

In testimony whereof, I set my hand, this 15th day of February, 1921.

IRA B. SANDERS.

